The coffins of the soldiers - three Spaniards and three Colombians - were carried into a closed hangar at the Spanish-led force's headquarters, just a few minutes' drive from the blast site. One young soldier wept as he carried a casket.

Blue berets were placed on the coffins, which were wrapped in Spain's red-and-yellow flag.

In Colombia, President Alvaro Uribe said his countrymen's deaths were "an offering to the world from the heroic people of Colombia in its fight against terrorism."

After the 90-minute ceremony, the bodies were carried to be loaded onto the U.N. transport helicopters, which circled the base three times before heading northwest to Beirut's airport for the journey back home.